Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
REMINDERS
“Shit,” Orion grunts as soon as we get outside.
I swing around to see he stopped to pull out his device. His eyes move, and then they close.
“All okay?” I ask.
“Just completely forgot I’ve got a study session booked for a project I’m working on. Will you be alright getting back to Nom House by yourself?”
I reach out, rubbing his shoulder, hoping to ease his stress. “Orion, I will be fine. I’m going to get some studying done, then go to bed early. After a shower, of course.”
I get a small smile, but it’s not a happy one.
“Message me when you get there,” he insists, as he takes a couple of steps in the opposite direction before stopping again.
His reluctance to leave me alone is sweet and probably justified, but I’ll be fine. “Have a good session. I’ll message you as soon as I’m back in my room.”
I turn and start walking before he can say another word. Without him chattering, my head gets busy as I walk from the dining hall back to Nom House, but not so busy that I drop my guard for a second.
On the way, I get a ping on my device, but I don’t stop to read it out in the open.
As soon as I get to the front of the building, I stop dead in my tracks.
The glass section of the door has been fixed, and it’s not hanging at an angle anymore.
It’s still not locked, but it’s a darn sight better than it was.
I push it open, return it to how I found it, then make my way up the stairs. On my level, I halt for the second time in as many minutes. Outside my door are two large, very old chests.
Given the welcome I’ve had since I arrived at Thales, it feels like a setup.
As I move closer to my room, it’s easy to see that my door is open and someone is inside.
I dig out my device and open the messaging app, shifting to where my chat with Orion is ready and waiting in case I need to call him for backup.
I don’t send anything off just yet, instead I make plenty of noise, announcing my presence, causing the man to turn around.
“Miss. Ellis?”
I take in the work overalls with the academy logo, but disguises are easy, so I stay where I am, nodding to confirm my identity.
“I’m Rodderick, and I work in maintenance. I didn’t get as much done as I wanted, but at least the window’s fixed and the door has a lock.” He points out his handiwork while I study him carefully.
When he leaves what he’s doing and comes toward me with an awareness that lets me know he’s reading my reservations for what they are, something in me relaxes.
Orion’s warning about touching others resurfaces, along with a feeling that I can trust Rodderick. The middle ground of keeping myself safe and being friendly is leaning against the door and introducing myself. “It’s Maya.”
He moves closer, and when he does, I get a better view of him and what he’s achieved.
“I hope you didn’t have to drop what you were doing to come and fix this.”
“Ah,” Rodderick says, wiping his hands on a rag he’s got tucked into his back pocket. “Between you and me, Maya, I’d much prefer to be working down this way.”
There’s a lot to read between the lines, and when he doesn’t explain further, it only feeds my suspicions more that Rodderick, maybe even all the staff at Thales, have had similar experiences to what I have with the other beings here.
I’m making assumptions, but I think people with shadows and strength in their eyes know a kindred spirit.
“Did you bring these too?” I say, pointing back at the old tea chests. Now I’m not freaking out as much, I can make out details including the very old and blackened leather straps, the tarnished brass studs, and worn padlocks.
“I did.”
I run my finger across the top of one, and a small buzz of energy courses up it. Although I might have imagined it, given how mystical they look. “Where did they come from?”
“Seems the same place this did,” he says, passing over a thick envelope with my name printed on the front.
Like with the boxes, I trace my finger over the paper, and a small buzz races up as I follow the loops of the calligraphy print of my name on the front. On the back, I’m not really surprised to find a wax seal on it; it’s got that whole vibe going on.
I crack the seal to open the envelope, pulling out a note and a key, which looks suspiciously like it matches the locks on the chests. The note isn’t signed.
Please accept these few things as you get settled. If you need anything specific, let me know. Considering the note isn’t signed, I’m not sure how that’s possible.
“Shall I help you put them in your room?” he asks.
“Yes, please.”
Rodderick takes one side as I take the other, and we shuffle our way into my room, setting both trunks just inside the door. They’re so heavy, I swear they weigh a ton, and choosing the place they sit is very calculated; it will make dragging them to block the door so much easier.
“I’ll get out of your hair,” Rodderick says as soon as the second one is in place.
While he collects his things, I see his handiwork. My bathroom is gleaming—well, compared to how it was—and the window is not only fixed, but a curtain has also been installed.
He must have worked here all day.
“This is amazing, Rodderick. Thank you so much.”
He blazes pink under my gratitude, and I wonder if anyone has ever thanked him for his help, or his time, before.
“Of course.”
As I help him gather the rest of his things, stacking them in his toolbox, a random, vivid memory of doing the same with my dad strikes. I miss him so much. Then an idea hits me. “Do you have a workshop here?”
He looks at me suspiciously, and I jump in to explain.
“I used to help my dad a lot around the house. It’s kind of like therapy, so I was going to see if I could stop by when I need my fill, if you know what I mean.”
His expression shifts, and a small but genuine smile changes his face. “Of course, Maya. It just took me by surprise, that’s all. We don’t get many requests like yours.”
“Really?” It’s my turn to be surprised. I think it’s plain weird these beings don’t help those in need, but I’m starting to see these beings are weird, period. “I’m okay being your first visitor. So long as it won’t get you into trouble.”
“I don’t believe there’d be an issue. The maintenance crew’s shed is out the back of the dining hall. If you turn left before the main doors to the dining hall, then follow the small path down the side of the building, follow it as far as it goes, and that’s where we’re at.”
“Awesome. Honestly, I don’t know when it will be.”
He grins. “That’s no bother at all. We’re there most days.”
Another ding from my device has our conversation drying up in an instant.
Honestly, I kind of forgot about the first one.
Before I read them, I message Orion letting him know I’m in my room and also explaining the reason I was a few minutes late.
As soon as I hit send, he contacts me back and we arrange our morning meetup.
He signs off with a run of emojis, and I open the other message waiting.
I scan it twice to make sure I’m reading it right—that my detention tonight has been rescheduled and consolidated into one session on Sunday, instead of being all week long.
I’m glad, since it will be over quicker, and afterward I’ll be able to get some study done.
“It might not be this weekend, but I will come see you soon.” I follow Rodderick to the door before holding my hand out to him. “It was great meeting you.”
He wears a look of confusion when he peers down at my hand, and as soon as I remember Orion’s warning, it makes sense.
“Sorry, my bad.”
Rodderick shrugs quickly before his hand engulfs mine. “You look after yourself, Maya. I look forward to seeing you soon. If you need anything in the meantime, slide a note to the ladies in the dining hall, and they’ll pass it along.”
With that, he walks off, whistling softly under his breath. I close the door as he goes down the stairs, and a whoosh of relief I didn’t know I was holding puffs my cheeks.
I perch on the top of the biggest chest, quickly going through my tablet to see if there are any other messages or emails that I need to respond to, but there was only the one.
Opting for a quick shower before I start all my homework and rearrange my room, I figure I may as well wash my gym uniform at the same time.
The water never heats but I ignore the temperature and finish cleaning myself and my clothes. After I use my T-shirt from last night to dry off again, I give it a wash too, hanging everything as best I can from the showerhead and the taps.
Dressing in my clothes from back home, I feel more like myself and better prepared when I look in the mirror.
The bruise around my eye is still an awful purple color.
I triple-check the cut on my hairline and the one on the back of my head.
Thankfully, my fingers come back without a mark on them.
I don’t have the time to deal with having an episode brought on by the red stuff flowing inside our veins.
Even thinking about it makes my tummy somersault.
I squeeze my eyes shut and visualize fluffy white clouds until the turbulence fades and the idea of opening the chests turns into a drive I can’t ignore.
First, though, I check that my new window is locked, then I pull the curtains closed before sliding the chest in front of the door.
Then all that remains is sliding the key into the lock.
The click as it disengages is what you’d expect from any lock. Perhaps a part of me thought it would make a pop and fizz or something magikal; it’s both a relief and a disappointment that the lock is as normal as normal can be.
The lock is weighty, and I get a small tingle, like an electric shock, as I put it on the floor so I can open the chest. I have to sit up on my knees because, like the lock, the top of the tea chest is heavy, but something inside it is making it hard to open.
I get it up, and a rush of excitement, like you feel on Christmas Day, has me smiling as I unpack everything.
And everything pretty much sums up what I find.
There are towels, pillows, blankets, and linens on the top half.
Buried in the middle is a range of toiletries that look surprisingly similar to what we have back home.
The branding is different, but the soap looks and smells the same.
There’s everything I’ll need in regard to toiletries, really.
Under them is stationery, gel pens, and pencils, pads of paper, and some shelves to go on my desk.
I pull out a tiny electric kettle, two pale blue coffee cups, and a couple of plastic water bottles.
What’s better is that the contents are not over the top, dripping in luxury. In my opinion, opulence is a waste of money. I mean, a towel is a towel, and a pen is a pen. And for the first time since I arrived, I think I might be able to do this.
In my excitement, I jump over to the next box and unlock that one too, and I come to a screeching halt.
This one is full of old books, ancient and tome-like.
I pick them up carefully, knowing these are worth a lot of money.
Lying beneath them are several bundles of leather.
Bringing the first roll out of the box, I see it’s lighter than I thought it would be, and once I undo the leather cord around it, the bundle unrolls, and I realize it’s a tunic top in dark navy blue and a pair of leather pants to match.
It’s slightly creepy that they look like they’ll fit, but my curiosity moves to the next package.
I pull that out, too, and there’s a jingle as I turn it over to open.
When I do, I sit there, staring down at what I find.
A pair of leather wrist cuffs, a matching belt, a velvety pouch, and two daggers in their sheaths. They look old, but look like they’re a complete set. Especially when I set them on top of the leather clothes.
The pouch is familiar, though I take a second to realize why. This matches the one that had the strange disappearing-then-appearing gold coins from this morning.
I’m not sure how to interpret the second box.
The first is so practical, it’s a no-brainer, but what I’ve taken from the other one doesn’t really make sense.
Fighting leathers and weapons don’t match how Noms are portrayed.
I thought I was worth nothing in their world, so what my benefactor sent makes me curious and optimistic, which I haven’t felt since I first climbed the fence.
I pull out the last couple of items. The first is a thick winter jacket, and the second a quilt that looks handmade. Like with everything else, there’s an aged quality to the items, but because they’re so well cared for, they don’t look old or worn.
I take my sweet time and roll the leathers back up, hiding their treasures. After stacking the tomes and books, I place them back in the chest, then relock it before standing up to look at my room.
Now that it’s organized, and there are actual things to fill the space, the need to make it feel like my own takes over.
I push the desk over to the window before sliding my mattress against the opposite wall.
Surveying the room and after figuring out I want to use the second tea chest as my bedside table, I shuffle things around again until my desk, my mattress, and the chest all fit together.
After setting everything up, I sit on my bed and survey it all. It looks good and nearly feels homey. It also leaves me completely and utterly spent, but before I switch off, I check my emails and messages.
Not expecting anything, I instantly feel like I’m going to throw up when the messages download, most of them from Seraphina.
I scroll to the top, ignoring her trash talk, to where she has invited me to a separate chat, titled “Nom Auction Now Open.” I know I shouldn’t engage, or even look, but I do.
So many students, from all the Houses, are bidding on who gets to own me.
I don’t spiral for the sole reason I’m completely and utterly done.
My brain switches to robotic mode, where function replaces everything else.
I set my alarm, brush my teeth, and get into bed, praying that today was just an exceptionally shitty day.
But I’m not holding my breath for anything different tomorrow.